Share your Fourth of July plans with us!

Like most Americans, our staff at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates will be celebrating America's 234th birthday this coming Sunday. For most people, Independence Day means a time of celebration, and a time to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of America's Declaration of Independence.

Fourth of July weekend is also a time to pay homage to all our soldiers, past and present - who continue to place themselves in harm's way so that Americans may continue to enjoy our freedoms.

Tell us about your Fourth of July plans! Are you heading to a barbecue with family? Hitting the open road? Are you planning on using fireworks to light up the night sky?

Let us know by posting on our Facebook page! We also encourage you to post any photos you may have!!

Whatever you end up doing this holiday weekend, we hope you have a fun, safe and happy Fourth of July!

Dr. Scheier and team want to know: Are you reading this summer?

With summer finally here, some of us at Havertown's Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates have been thinking more and more about the importance of summer reading. Watching TV doesn't replicate the experience of reading a good book, and books are great for kids as well, as reading helps children maintain their skill level and be prepared for classes in the fall. In addition, a new study has found that the number of books in the home might predict a child's educational future.

Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and we'll be more than happy to provide a few great titles for you. You may also ask a local librarian here in Havertown some ideas or check out various summer reading lists that we came across this week, from Barnes & Noble.

Could you be a teeth whitening addict?

Havertown dentist Dr. Mitchell Scheier knows that people want to look and feel great, and at a time when a set of sparkling white teeth might mean the difference between getting a job or a promotion, more and more folks are excessively trying to whiten their teeth and are running into problems, including irritation and bleeding gums, excessive teeth sensitivity and even translucent teeth.

At Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates, we are proud of offer the latest in in-office whitening, including Zoom!® Teeth Whitening (as seen on Extreme Makeover) and other services.

Please give us a call at 610-449-4646 for more info about our professional teeth whitening treatments and read more about teeth whitening addiction from our friends at WebMD.

Cavities and you, from Dr. Mitchell Scheier

Havertown dentist Dr. Mitchell Scheier knows one word nobody wants to hear when they visit Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates is "cavity." But what exactly is a cavity and how do you get one? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity anyway? A cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by Dr. Scheier, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities at home:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (use soft bristles)
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach
• Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat/drink
• Be sure to visit Dr. Scheier every six months for a check-up (or as recommended by our office)

We hope this helps! Give us a call at 610-449-4646 for more information about cavities or your oral health! Enjoy the rest of your week!

June is National Smile Month!

Our friends at the American Dental Association discovered that a person's smile was important than their eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature. After all, there's reason why Americans spend as much as they do on cosmetic dentistry: folks want to look (and feel) great.

That brings us to June, also known as National Smile Month. It's a great time for Dr. Scheier to remind all of our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to Advanced Dental Concepts.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks.
* Visit our office regularly (usually every six months).

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call at 610-449-4646. Get out there and share your beautiful smiles with the world!

Bottled water: The culprit behind tooth troubles?

Dr. Mitchell Scheier and our team want you to know that as more families turn to bottled water and away from the tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient that most brands of bottled water fail to include: fluoride!

Bottled water is second only to soft drinks as the most popular drink in the U.S., beating out milk, juice, tap water and other beverages. Between 2001 and 2006, the amount of bottled water sold in the U.S. rose an average of 10% per year. And many dental health specialists point to bottled water’s increased popularity as the culprit behind rising rates of cavities.

Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health. The benefits of fluoride were noticed in the early part of the twentieth century, when researchers found communities with low levels of tooth decay. It turned out that these towns had measurable levels (around 1 part per million) of fluoride in their drinking water.

Beginning in the 1940s, communities have fluoridated their water supplies, and dentists have seen a significant decline in cavities ever since. The American Dental Association endorses both community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride-containing products as a safe means of preventing tooth decay. Between tap water and toothpaste, most of us get sufficient amounts of fluoride.

But if your family avoids fluoridated tap water in favor of ever-more-popular bottled water, you could be missing out on the levels of fluoride necessary to make a difference in your oral health. If bottled water is your water of choice, check the label to make sure that your brand contains fluoride. As of a 2006 decision, the FDA allows bottled water containing .6 to 1.0 milligrams per liter of fluoride to carry a label stating that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental cavities or tooth decay. The ADA has backed this decision.

Of course, simply drinking fluoridated water is not a magic ticket to perfect teeth. To keep your choppers in tip-top shape, it’s important to brush and floss daily and avoid sugary sweets, in addition to maintaining your fluoride intake and visiting us at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates regularly.

Invisalign tips with Dr. Scheier

Many people know that Invisalign is a fantastic solution to traditional braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, however, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively.

Regular - and, of course, exceptional oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Scheier wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - The aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Mitchell D. Scheier and Associates, please give us a call!

Happy Friday!!